Maastricht Instruments: Vitrobot Mark IV
The Vitrobot is a laboratory device developed by Maastricht Instruments – the commercial arm of the Instrument Development, Engineering & Evaluation Service at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences – to prepare frozen samples for examination under the electron microscope. It is marketed commercially by FEI Company, to complement its range of electron microscopes.
Having concentrated on improving technical functionality in earlier generations of the Vitrobot, for the Mark IV Maastricht Instruments wanted to perfect its outward appearance. The company therefore asked WeLL Design to create an ergonomic version in line with FEI Company’s house design style and within the constraints imposed by short production runs.
We began this process by conducting a Vitrobot user survey, formulating the ergonomic specifications and studying the FEI style. Based upon this input, we first produced a number of design concepts and then the final version. Because of the comparatively small numbers to be produced, we opted for vacuforming and sheet steel working as manufacturing processes.
“The Vitrobot is taking the market by storm,” says a proud Frans Smeets, head of Maastricht Instruments.
Website: http://www.fei.com/products/specialty-tools/vitrobot-mark-iv.aspx
